The holidays passed in a blur, and before anyone was ready the students returned in full force. Odessa tried to make her lessons fun, but more and more of her students were being obstinate and rude, no matter what she did. After assigning her third detention in a class Odessa asked them all to stop what they were doing.

"Obviously something is wrong," she said, looking them each in the eye. "Before Christmas you all seemed to love my class, or at least tolerate it rather well. But now you're rude, speaking out, purposefully not doing your homework. What has gotten into you?"

The class just stared at their feet, refusing to look at her.

"Anyone?" Odessa asked. She was answered with silence. "Okay then, get back to work. And don't think that I won't fail you if you don't do your work."

"Professor Greene won't let you," someone in the back muttered.

"I assure you she will," Odessa said. "And Professor McGonagall will back me up too. She may be in the hospital, but she's still in charge of this school. Now back to work." The day dragged on as her students continued to be less-than-thrilled to be in her classroom. Odessa was relieved when the day finally ended. Tired, she went up to the Great Hall for dinner.

"Bad day?" Sirius asked.

"You could say that." Odessa said. "The students have turned against me. They won't do their homework, they're goofing off in class, they're disrespectful. I've never had this kind of trouble before. I can't trust them with the potions anymore, I think I'm going to have them all write an essay tomorrow on what good behavior is."

"That's rough," Sirius said.

"You mean they haven't been acting that way towards you?" Odessa asked.

"Nope," Sirius said. "They seem a bit more out of it than usual, but I figure that's because they just got back from break."

"Why do they hate me then?" Odessa asked, burying her face in her hands.

"Who hates you?" Hastings asked, taking a seat.

"The kids," Odessa said.

"They don't hate you," Hastings said.

"Oh yes they do. If you saw how they were acting out in class. It's pure anarchy. I need to talk to Jade about this." Odessa paused, "Are you not having problems?"

"None," Hastings said.

"Then why do they hate me?"

"Perhaps they just had a bad day," Sirius said.

"Bad day my foot. Jade!" Odessa waved at Professor Greene.

"What is it?" She asked, coming over.

"It's my students – I think they all hate me."

"I doubt that, Odessa. Why would you think such a thing?"

"Because of they way they behaved today. And for the past week. The first week back they were all…normal. But this week more and more of them have been increasingly rude. They haven't done their homework. I just don't know what to think. I handed out thirteen detentions today. Thirteen! That's more than I've handed out all year."

Professor Greene smiled gently, "Let me know if the same thing happens tomorrow. If it does, I'll speak to the students personally, okay?"

"Thanks Jade," Odessa said with a small smile. "I appreciate it."

"You're welcome dear. Now, let's eat, shall we"?

Odessa braced herself before walking into her classroom. "You can do this," she muttered under her breath. Forcing a smile on her face, Odessa walked into the room. "Good morning everyone. Please put your homework on my desk." Odessa waited for the scowls and excuses to start, but to her surprise everyone stood up and handed in their homework. A few even smiled and said good morning. Odessa didn't know what to think.

"Um, I'm glad to see that you're in a better mood today than you were a few days ago," she said. "Today we're going to work on…" she glanced at her notes and saw that she had written down "Behavior Essay." "Um, today I'm going to let you decide which potion you want to brew," she improvised. "There are three listed in Chapter 15. During the next three days we will be brewing each of these potions. You can decide which one you want to do first. Have fun." Odessa walked the aisles as she normally did during class and was greeted with hello's, asked questions, and overall treated as she normally was. Nonplussed, she sat at her desk as her last class before lunch walked out.

"Coming to lunch?" Gabe asked, sticking his head in.

"Yes. What are you doing down here?"

"Would you believe I need more Pepper Up potion?"

"No," Odessa said. "Why are you really down here?"

"Because I need more Pepper Up potion." Gabe said, walking in. "There's something going around. Kids keep coming in sick. I've cleaned out the apothecary. Can you make some?"

"Of course," Odessa said, grabbing the ingredients. "It's an easy one. I'm surprised you've gone through so much."

"Me too," Gabe said. "The potion only seems to be working for a short amount of time and then they're back just as sick as before. I don't want to give them anything stronger until I know what's wrong. But I have yet to figure it out."

"Seems like something's wrong with the students. Mine are going through menopause and yours keep getting sick."

"I'm sorry," Gabe said, looking confused. "Did you say menopause?"

"Yeah," Odessa smile. "They keep having severe mood changes. And it isn't of the normal teen variety. Did Hastings tell you about how my students have been acting?"

"She mentioned it last night."

"Well today they were all sunshine and roses. I didn't know what to think."

"Perhaps Jade spoke with them," Gabe suggested.

"It's possible," Odessa said. "I didn't think she was going to unless it happened again, but perhaps she took pity on me."

"Odessa," Professor Vector stuck her head in. "I just wanted to let you know that I finished my potion."

"That's great Isabella!"

"Thanks." Professor said. "Unfortunately I think I've used all of the ingredients you loaned me. If you make up a list I'll order the supplies for you."

"No need," Odessa said. "I've been keeping my shelves stocked. Besides, I'm glad I was a part of it in some small way. You know, you could sell that potion."

"I'm thinking about it, but then I keep thinking of all the ministry guidelines that'll be put on it. I might just keep it for myself."

"You could sell it to the Weasley brothers," Gabe said. "I'm sure they'd find a good use for it."
"I have no doubt that the use they found for it would be anything but good," Professor Vector said wryly. "No, I think I'll keep it to myself for awhile."

"Keep what to yourself?" Falcon asked as he walked in.

"What are you doing here?" Odessa asked snidely, waving goodbye to Isabella.

"I came to see what was taking Gabe so long with the Pepper Up potion." Falcon replied. "It should be ready by now."

"I was just about to bottle it up," Odessa said.

"Are you sure you didn't ruin it?" Falcon asked, bending over and smelling it.

"Yes, I'm sure," Odessa said through gritted teeth.

"I'll be back up in a minute," Gabe said.

"See that you are," Falcon said. "You know, next time I might ask Professor O'Reilly to brew up the potion. It certainly wouldn't take as long."

"Too bad he isn't here," Odessa muttered.

"But he is," Falcon said. "Stopped by to say hello. Anyway, I'll see you upstairs Nurse Lupin."

"He really is a jerk," Odessa said. "Why do you let him speak to you like that."

"Unfortunately, he reported the little incident that happened in The Three Broomsticks. St. Mungo's put me on probation. Professor Greene protested, but there wasn't anything she could do. I have to be on my best behavior now."

"Lovely," said Odessa. "Here's your potion. Oh, and if Falcon gets sick send him to me for a remedy. St. Mungo's can't touch me."

"I'd be glad to," Gabe said, taking the potion. "Thanks. And sorry, I've taken up your lunch hour."

"Don't worry about it. I need to spend the last few minutes deciding what my class should do if they actually come in and behave. I was going to have them all write essays on appropriate behavior but…" Odessa shrugged, "doesn't look like they need it at the moment."

"Have fun," Gabe said, leaving.

"I'll try," Odessa said, sitting back down at her desk. "As long as O'Reilly doesn't decide to poke his ugly face in here."

Hastings, on the other hand, was having to confiscate items from her normally very attentive fourth years. She'd been jinxed several times already during the class, and had given out eight detentions, plus taken at least one hundred points from each house. Finally, toward the end of class, she had her students line up and tackle a Boggart that was in her closet. She attempted to rest as the students were turning it into various amusing things, but had little success with that.

At one point, the boggart had turned into a giant, man-eating plant, and had caught hold of Veronica Miles—a fourth year Gryffindor—by the foot. Hastings had to turn the boggart upon herself and fight it off.

"Ridikulus!" She yelled, pointing her wand at the boggart. It vanished in a puff of smoke.

"Nicely done Professor," George Wilson said. Hastings opened her mouth to thank him but was quickly cut off by his next words, "Too bad you always have to show off and don't give any of us students a chance."

"Detention, Mr. Wilson," Hastings said. "And that will apply to the rest of you if you don't sit down and behave." Groans of protest were heard throughout the room. "I don't want to hear it," Hastings said. "If you don't want to be scrubbing chamber pots with your bare hands then I suggest you sit down and write an essay on appropriate behavior in the classroom. Any deviation from the subject, or sarcasm, will guarantee you a date with those chamber pots." Hastings ignored the dirty looks that were thrown her way and sat down at her desk, staring at her students. What had gotten into them?

"Okay Odessa," Hastings cornered her friend later that night in the common room. "I want to know why the students all turned on me today."

"They turned on you?" Odessa looked surprised. "They were perfect angels for me today."

"Did you bribe them?" Hastings asked.

"Bribe them?"

"To be good in your class and misbehave in mine?"

"Um, not likely, although it's not a bad idea. I'll have to remember that in the future. Why do you ask?" Odessa said.

"I just can't figure it out. First you and now me. What's going on?" Hastings said, sitting on the couch.

"Hello ladies, mind if we join you?" Gabe and Sirius walked in.

"Not at all," Hastings said with a smile.

"We're just trying to solve the world's problems," Odessa added, scooting over to make room for Sirius.

"And what's wrong with the world today?" Gabe asked, sitting next to Hastings.

"The students have revolted." Hastings said.

"But you said they were good today," Gabe said, looking at Odessa.

"They were," Odessa said. "But only in my class. Did you have problems Sirius?"

"Actually, yes, I did," Sirius said. "I was tempted to transfigure them all into docile rats. Instead I remembered Odessa's comments and made them write essays on proper behavior.

Hastings burst out laughing, "I did the same thing! I have a feeling I might be cursed again tomorrow."

"At least you'll be cursed together," Odessa said with a grin. "Seriously though, what do you think's going on with the students?"

"No idea," Gabe said. "And what's worse is that Professor McGonagall keeps getting worse and the doctor's have no idea what's wrong."

"You know what we need to do?" Odessa asked. "We need to start following around the other professors. One of them is responsible and we need to find out who."

"Do you really think that's necessary?" Hastings asked.

"Yes, I do," Odessa said. "A student couldn't be causing this. Here's my plan: Hastings will follow Isabella, Gabe will follow Jade, and I will follow O'Reilly."

"And who am I suppose to follow?" Sirius asked.

"The others."

"The other teachers? Why do I get all the rest?"

"Because you're the master of transfiguration," Odessa said. "That's why. And because you have the most tenure thus you also have the most free time."

"I still don't think it's fair."

"So?" Odessa said, completely unsympathetically.

"Fine, fine, I'll follow the rest," Sirius said.

"Everyone else okay with this?" Odessa asked. Hastings and Gabe reluctantly nodded. "Great then, let's get to bed."